CLEVELAND, Ga. (February 4, 2026) – On Wednesday, the Truett McConnell University women's basketball team battled to a hard-earned Appalachian Athletic Conference victory at home, defeating Columbia International University 71–69 in overtime. TMU rises to an overall record of 5-17, 4-10 AAC. 

PLAY-BY-PLAY
TMU came out playing aggressively on both ends, establishing an early offensive rhythm behind scoring from Destinee Lovejoy and Carsyn Ward. Truett McConnell held a slight lead after the opening quarter as balanced scoring kept the Lady Bears competitive (18-14). In the second quarter, TMU continued to find offensive success, leaning on Lovejoy's presence inside as well as timely contributions from Kayleigh Kelley. The Lady Bears maintained their edge heading into halftime by limiting CIU's scoring opportunities and closing the half with key baskets to stay ahead on the scoreboard, 35-23.

Out of the break, TMU responded to a strong CIU push, with Kelley and Lovejoy carrying the offensive load and Ward hitting buckets to keep TMU in front. The game remained tight in the fourth quarter as both teams traded momentum and defensive stops. With the score tied late, TMU executed down the stretch to force overtime, where clutch free throws and shots by Ward and Madison Aguilera helped the Lady Bears close out the 71–69 win. 

LEADERS
Lovejoy led the way for the Lady Bears with a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Ward contributed a strong performance with 13 points, and Kelley added 13 points of her own, including multiple made three-point shots. Queen added in 11 points to round out TMU's offensive efforts.

UP NEXT
The Lady Bears travel to face AAC opponent Johnson University on Saturday, February 7. Tip off set for at 2:00 p.m.